Oilers acquire Patrick O'Sullivan

Los Angeles Kings left wing Patrick O'Sullivan (12) controls the puck as he skates down ice with New York Islanders center Mike Comrie (89) trailing during the second period of an NHL hockey game at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have obtained forward Patrick O’Sullivan and a second round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Erik Cole and the Oilers fifth round draft choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

O’Sullivan, who was traded to Carolina from the Los Angeles Kings for Justin Williams prior to the trade to Edmonton, was the fifth leading scorer for the Kings this season with 37 points in 62 games. Averaging 19:25 minutes of ice time per game, the 5’11”, 190 pound, 24-year-old from Winston-Salem, North Carolina has scored 14 goals and 23 assists this season with 16 penalty minutes. He has two powerplay goals along with one shorthanded goal and one game winning goal.

Now in his third NHL season, O’Sullivan has scored 41-68-109 with 66 penalty minutes in 188 career games since playing his first NHL game with Los Angeles in 2006-07. Selected as the Kings Best Defensive Player a year ago he scored a career-high 22-31-53 in 82 games for Los Angeles in 2007-08.

Originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he turned pro with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League in 2005-06, scoring 47-46-93 in 78 games under the direction of Rob Daum, who is currently coaching Edmonton’s AHL affiliate in Springfield.

O’Sullivan played four seasons of junior hockey with the OHL’s Mississauga Ice Dogs and was named the Canadian Hockey League’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2001-02. He has represented the United States on six occasions, including two World Championships and three World Junior Championships. He scored two goals, including the game winning goal, in Team USA’s 4-3 win over Canada in the gold medal final at the 2004 World Junior Championship.

The Edmonton Oilers 30th Anniversary Season is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Bell, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial and Ford